Thread Tools

I know I probably shouldn't be starting another Mike Wallace thread, but the other one had grown so long it had pretty much run its course.

Anyways, the current update is that the Steelers have offered Wallace a one-year contract worth $2.742 million, and they have the right to match any deal that another team offers him. The Steelers would still get a first round pick as compensation if Wallace signs elsewhere.

Say we sign Wallace and the Steelers don't match. Would we only have to give them the 31st pick that is ours and not the 27th that we gained in a trade? Of course the Steelers and Pats could probably make some kind of sign and trade agreement for the 27th. To get Wallace would be worth it.

They basically saying they'll give him more than his tender is worth for a season so that he stays there and then they will guarantee he will either be allowed to hit the market next season or they will work to sign him long term when the cap space is in better condition.

That's a lot of trust to put into an employer. I say he tests the market still to see if anyone will offer the first rounder and the money.

Say we sign Wallace and the Steelers don't match. Would we only have to give them the 31st pick that is ours and not the 27th that we gained in a trade? Of course the Steelers and Pats could probably make some kind of sign and trade agreement for the 27th. To get Wallace would be worth it.

Click to expand...

The rule is that you can use an earlier pick than your own pick in a given round if necessary, but (A) you can't use a later one, and (B) the prior team can't demand an earlier one. For example, if Cleveland tried to sign Wallace, they'd have to use their own first; they couldn't use Atlanta's.

They basically saying they'll give him more than his tender is worth for a season so that he stays there and then they will guarantee he will either be allowed to hit the market next season or they will work to sign him long term when the cap space is in better condition.

That's a lot of trust to put into an employer. I say he tests the market still to see if anyone will offer the first rounder and the money.

Click to expand...

It's not an offer. He's an RFA. $2.7 million is the price for a WR getting the 1st round tender.

Wallace has no choice but to take it - unless he gets a better offer. There's really no news - the $2.7 was expected all along since it was the standard 1st round tender offer.

EDIT: Sorry that wasn't as clear as it should have been. $2.7-million is the CBA-mandated offer for an RFA WR if a team wants to place the 1st round tender on him. All I was trying to say is it's not a number the Steelers came up with. If they wanted the 1st round pick back they had to offer him exactly $2.7 million.

My understanding is that teams would need to make an offer to Wallace that would be much more than $2.7 million for one season in order to get him... We're talking long term mega deal that just went up thanks to the Redskins signing GarÃ§on.

By tendering him at that level the Steelers have one week to contemplate and potentially match any offer (which would probably be front loaded to prevent the Steelers from being able to match) and whichever team lands him would also have to give up a 1st round pick.

Because the Patriots woud be giving up what's nearly a 2nd round pick it makes it more feasible for them to make the offer than other teams, but it's the money and the one week waiting period that gives one pause.

Even temporarily tying up that amount of cap space for one week while other free agents sign elsewhere will be difficult for the Patriots or any team to do, which could lead to the Patriots missing out on free agents AND missing out on Wallace if the Steelers find a way to match, so there's a lot of factors working against the Patriots on this one, even aside from a high salary (and I say that as someone who really likes Wallace and what he'd bring to the Patriots.)

To sign him, it's going to have to be a rich, rich deal so the Steelers don't match, and it would have to be front-loaded with a high cap number. Because of that, I'm just not sure it's good business for the Patriots. I'd like to see them draft the "next" Wallace. That, to me, is the winning approach -- drafting and developing -- and the more fiscally responsible.

Let's offer 8-9 million a year. Either the Steelers match it and have less cap, or we get him. Win-win

Click to expand...

This offer of 8-9 million per could actually potentially HELP the Steelers in this instance.

They are looking at having to pay him at least 9-10 million next yr in FA as an URFA or lose him to FA, and they'd probably match that offer of 8-9 this yr in a heartbeat...and consider it a favor at this point.

Then again, it is kind of difficult to project exactly how much Wallace would demand, so you may be closer to the figure than I think. At least the 9 million part of it anyway.

It's so simple and yet so affordable! If only someone had suggested it sooner!

(actually I'm sure he will draft receivers as he has in the past, but even some of the best receivers out there have needed time to develop and I'd think that Belchick will be interested in some immediate help, which means free agency or trade.)

Let's say a team would like Mike Wallace, but won't be able to pay Jackson/Garcon money for him. Couldn't they just sign him to a 5 year - 25 million dollar deal just to force the Steelers to match and pay more against the cap this year? It's all hypothetical, and besides being a jerk why don't teams do it more often?